Pope says violence in Nigeria affects both Muslims and Christians, rejects Christian genocide label

Pope Leo XIV, the head of the Catholic Church, has pushed back against growing international claims that Christians in Nigeria are facing genocide, stating that the violence plaguing the nation indiscriminately affects Christians, Muslims, and other groups.
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Speaking to journalists outside his Castel Gandolfo residence, the Pontiff attributed the crisis to a complex mix of terrorism and economic struggles over land rather than targeted religious extermination.
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While acknowledging the peril faced by believers, the Pope aligned with the Nigerian government’s position that the crisis is being misrepresented as a purely religious war.

I think in Nigeria, in certain areas, there is certainly a danger for Christians, but for all people. Christians and Muslims have been slaughtered…there’s a question of terrorism. There’s a question that has to do a lot with economics, if you will, and control of the lands that they have. Unfortunately, many Christians have died, and I think it’s important to seek a way for the government, with all peoples, to promote authentic religious freedom – Pope

‎This mirrors recent sentiments from the Vatican’s Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin. During the presentation of the 2025 Religious Freedom Report last month, Parolin described the situation in Nigeria as a social conflict, involving clashes between herders and farmers, rather than a systematic religious persecution.

‎The Nigerian government has repeatedly rejected the genocide narrative, arguing that portraying the conflict as an assault on a single faith ignores the reality on ground, where criminality and resource control are the primary drivers.

‎In response to the U.S. designation, the Nigerian government has intensified its diplomatic outreach. On Wednesday, National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu led a high-powered delegation to the United States to address the allegations directly. The team met with Congressman Riley Moore, whom President Trump delegated to investigate the persecution claims. Following the engagement, Moore described the dialogue as “frank, honest, and productive,” suggesting that the talks may help clarify the complexities of Nigeria’s security landscape to Washington.
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